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Townsend ‘delighted’ to complete Newcastle switch

Date published: Wednesday 27th January 2016 7:20

Andros Townsend has expressed his joy at ending his exile at Tottenham by completing his long-awaited transfer to Newcastle.

The England international has joined the Magpies for an undisclosed fee, understood to be £12million, and becomes head coach Steve McClaren’s third capture this month, taking the club’s total January investment to in the region of £29million.

His arrival at St James’ Park was confirmed in a club statement which said: “Newcastle United have completed the signing of England international winger Andros Townsend from Tottenham Hotspur.

“The 24-year-old arrives at St James’ Park for an undisclosed fee and has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Magpies. He will wear the number 25 shirt.”

Townsend put pen to paper on Wednesday evening after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms, in the process ending a 16-year stay at Tottenham which had soured in recent months.

His first opportunity to play for his new club will come at Everton next Wednesday evening, and he could make his home debut in what will be a crucial clash with West Brom three days later.

“I’m delighted to be here. Newcastle United is a fantastic club with great fans, a great stadium and great tradition,” he said.

“As soon as I heard Newcastle were interested in me, there was only one place I wanted to go so I can’t wait to get started.”

Townsend’s arrival represents another boost for under-pressure McClaren, who has been desperate to add proven Premier League quality to his squad to assist in the fight for top-flight survival.

The winger, who joined Spurs as an eight-year-old, joins former Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in fulfilling that brief, and now faces the task of reviving his career on Tyneside, no doubt with one eye on the Euro 2016 finals.

McClaren said: “Bringing Andros to the club is a great signing. He is a very good talent who is a current England international and should be one for years to come, too.

“Andros is a winger with an old-fashioned style. He can play on the right or the left, is two-footed, quick, very direct and loves taking on defenders and crossing the ball.

“He feels he has a lot to prove and I can’t wait to see him do that in a Newcastle shirt.”

Newcastle currently sit inside the bottom three, two points from safety with just 15 games to play and facing a battle to preserve their top-flight status.

McClaren will hope his latest acquisition can help to add both supply and goals to his team, but the hunt for striking reinforcement is ongoing with Saido Berahino, Loic Remy and Bafetimbi Gomis among the men in the Magpies’ sights, although time is running out fast.

Meanwhile, a Newcastle XI is understood to have been beaten 6-0 by a Sunderland XI on Wednesday in a behind-closed-doors friendly organised to give fringe players, and those returning from injury at both clubs, a chance to get some game-time.